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Weather & Climate in Papatowai, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Papatowai experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 57°F in January while summers reach 42°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 262 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 41.0 inches. The city sits at an elevation of 82 feet.
Temperature
57°F Jan (14°C)
42°F Jul (6°C)
| Annual Average | 49.7°F |
| 8% below US avg | |
| January Average | 57°F (14°C) |
| July Average | 42°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 262 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Area | 3,133.1 sq mi (8,114.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 2/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -46.5607°N, 169.4707°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
8 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.5.
| Oct 12, 2000 | 15 km N of Papatowai, New Zealand | M4.5 | 16 km | 31 km |
| Apr 14, 2009 | 29 km NW of Riverton, New Zealand | M4.5 | 138 km | 5 km |
| Mar 17, 2020 | 70 km S of Papatowai, New Zealand | M4.4 | 71 km | 10 km |
| Jun 1, 2015 | 33 km WNW of Dunedin, New Zealand | M4.3 | 105 km | 9 km |
| Feb 6, 2011 | 19 km NNW of Papatowai, New Zealand | M4.1 | 20 km | 12 km |
| May 3, 1994 | 24 km S of Dunedin, New Zealand | M3.8 | 92 km | 33 km |
| Jun 30, 2003 | 64 km SSE of Cromwell, New Zealand | M3.8 | 113 km | 21 km |
| May 10, 2004 | 16 km WNW of Papatowai, New Zealand | M3.7 | 17 km | 13 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1839 | WAIKAWA, SOUTHLAND | Unknown | — | — | 27 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57°F (14°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| February | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 3.6 in | |
| April | 51°F (10°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 46°F (8°C) | 4.6 in | Wettest |
| June | 43°F (6°C) | 3.7 in | |
| July | 42°F (6°C) | 3.2 in | Coldest |
| August | 44°F (6°C) | 2.4 in | Driest |
| September | 47°F (8°C) | 3.0 in | |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 3.6 in | |
| November | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 in | |
| December | 55°F (13°C) | 3.9 in |
Papatowai has a seasonal temperature swing of 15°F / from 42°F in July to 57°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 41.0 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.6") and August the driest (2.4").